Mr. Dayton to Mr. Seward
Sir: In a recent conference with M. Drouyn de l’Huys he complained seriously of your late action in refusing to the French navy a supply of coal bought by it in New York. He says France never has declared, and never will [Page 85] declare coal contraband of war; that if the United States should do so, it would be a retrograde move, inasmuch as its traditional policy had always been in favor of neutrals and in limitation rather than in extension of the list of contraband. He hopes that we will not retrace our steps, but, in this matter, adhere to our past policy; that France has always gone with us, or we with her, on these questions of maritime law, and he does not think it for the interest of either country to part company; at least, that was the inference from his language.
He informed me, further, that your opinion was understood to be favorable to letting the coal go to the French vessels, but difficulty was made by the Secretary of the Treasury. I told him, if this were so, there might be some question connected with the revenue which had interfered, but he thought otherwise, and said that it was made to rest purely upon the question, is coal contraband of war? This is a question of deep interest to the French government—deeper, perhaps, than to us, she having a large navy and little coal, while Great Britain and the United States have an abundance of the latter article.
He said, further, that if the United States should declare coal contraband of war, it would place France in a false position in reference to our country. That she, France, holding coal not to be contraband, would be compelled to supply it to our enemies in time of war, and to the confederates, while denying it to us because we denied it to them. That they would dislike much to be placed in a position indicating such apparent want of neutrality, yet, that it would be inevitable if coal was declared by us contraband of war.
There is a good deal of sensitiveness manifested here on this point. M. Rouher, minister of state, referred to it, I observe, in his late speech in the Chamber of Deputies.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward Secretary of State, &c., &c., &c.